Hexagram 42, line 2
六二Line 2 of Augmenting
Six in the second place · 益 yì
爻辭 The line text
或益之，十朋之龜弗克違，永貞吉。王用享于帝，吉。The second line, divided, shows parties adding to the stores of its subject ten pairs of tortoise shells whose oracles cannot be opposed. Let him persevere in being firm and correct, and there will be good fortune. Let the king, (having the virtues thus distinguished), employ them in presenting his offerings to God, and there will be good fortune.
或益之，自外來也。'Parties add to his stores:'—they come from beyond (his immediate circle) to do so.
In plain words
'Someone increases him: ten pairs of tortoise shells cannot refuse; lasting steadiness brings good fortune; the king uses this to make offering to the Supreme Lord' (或益之，十朋之龜弗剋違，永貞吉，王用享於帝). Line two is yin, central and correct, and corresponds to the strong ruler at five: in a hexagram of increase this is the line best placed to receive. The small Image notes that the gifts come from outside (自外來也) — unsought, from beyond one's circle. The text is nearly identical to Sun's fifth line, and the difference is instructive: there the receiver was the ruler, here it is a subject, so 'lasting steadiness' is added — one in a lower place must hold on to what it has been given.
If this line is changing
Help is arriving from a direction you did not plan for; take it, and then make steadiness your long-term discipline so the gain does not drain away.
Where the line stands
- A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin line that moves when cast.
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
- It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
- It belongs to the lower trigram 震 Zhen (the Arousing) (thunder).
- It corresponds (應) with line 5: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.
之卦 When this line moves
益 Augmenting becomes ䷼ 61 中孚 Inner Sincerity
Wind over the lake: inner truth that moves even pigs and fishes. Good fortune, favourable to cross the great river — sincerity at the centre reaches what force cannot.
What it becomes61 · 中孚 Inner Sincerityzhōng fúThe six lines of 益 Augmenting
- 初九Nine at the beginninggreat undertaking · a low position · only great success clears it
- 六二Six in the second placegifts from outside · lasting steadiness · offering to heaven
- 六三Six in the third placeincrease through hardship · sincere middle course · report with the jade
- 六四Six in the fourth placethe middle course · advice followed · moving the capital
- 九五Nine in the fifth placesincere kindness · no need to ask · goodness acknowledged
- 上九Nine at the topno one adds · someone strikes · an unsteady heart
Read 益 Augmenting for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Six in the second place of hexagram 42, Augmenting, mean?
- 'Someone increases him: ten pairs of tortoise shells cannot refuse; lasting steadiness brings good fortune; the king uses this to make offering to the Supreme Lord' (或益之，十朋之龜弗剋違，永貞吉，王用享於帝). Line two is yin, central and correct, and corresponds to the strong ruler at five: in a hexagram of increase this is the line best placed to receive. The small Image notes that the gifts come from outside (自外來也) — unsought, from beyond one's circle. The text is nearly identical to Sun's fifth line, and the difference is instructive: there the receiver was the ruler, here it is a subject, so 'lasting steadiness' is added — one in a lower place must hold on to what it has been given.
- What does hexagram 42 become when line 2 changes?
- Augmenting becomes hexagram 61, 中孚 Inner Sincerity: Wind over the lake: inner truth that moves even pigs and fishes. Good fortune, favourable to cross the great river — sincerity at the centre reaches what force cannot.
- Is line 2 of Augmenting in its correct place?
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands. It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).